NTEU attacks Government complacency and calls on universities to defend whistleblowers
16 January 2001
The NTEU, representing academic and general staff in Australian universities, has condemned the Federal Government’s refusal to take any responsibility for reports of declining standards in Australian universities. It argues that the Government’s response that such matters will be investigated by the new Australian Universities Quality Agency, reported in today’s Sydney Morning Herald, is totally inadequate.
`The Minister is trying to pass the buck’, said NTEU President Carolyn Allport. `The AUQA is not yet up and running. More importantly, the Minister has stated elsewhere that the AUQA `does not have responsibility for investigating complaints about institutions’ Clearly, the Government doesn’t want to take responsibility for ensuring that standards and quality are maintained in our universities, and expects the market to solve all its problems. Quality of education in our universities must be first and foremost the Minister’s responsibility.’
The Union has also called on Vice-Chancellors to protect staff who `blow the whistle’ on declining standards and conflicts of interest in Australian universities.
`The vast majority of staff perform their work with integrity and regard for the quality of education that students receive. However, there is no doubt that the pressure on staff to pass more students and attract and retain fee-paying students is increasing,’ said NTEU President Dr Carolyn Allport. `If staff become aware of such practices, they need to be confident that they can bring this matter to the attention of their institutions and the general public without fear of reprisal.’
Dr Allport said that such reprisal could range from staff being placed on disciplinary charges through to more subtle discrimination, such as being passed over for promotion.
`This is a matter of public interest. State and Federal governments provide around $4 billion dollars annually to universities, and therefore the taxpaying public has a right to know of any practices that might undermine the quality of education provided by those institutions. Those students who contribute to funding through HECS payments also have a right to be assured that all students are treated equally.’
`Therefore, NTEU is calling on all Vice-Chancellors to ensure that staff giving evidence to the forthcoming Senate Inquiry on higher education are supported and are not subject to reprisals.’